Obesity and behavior - among dogs and dog owners

Obesity is by far the most common nutritional disorder in dogs (German, 2006). As we approach the Christmas season with plenty amounts of food in most families, we need to hold on to the healthy habits regarding feeding our four-legged family members. It can also be a time for reflection of the general health and well-being of our dogs. Obesity is known to be related to a wide range of disorders, such as orthopedic disorders, diabetes mellitus, heart disorders, respiratory disorders, reproductive disorders, urinary tract disorders, reproductive problems, and complications of anesthesia (German, 2006).

Many factors can increase the risk of obesity, such as genetics, high energy content in feed and overfeeding (for example with leftover food), preferably in combination with too little physical activity (German, 2006).

However, there are recent studies that show further perspective in the problem of obesity in our dogs. A study has examined whether there is a link between obesity and behavioral problems. Behavioral problems such as stealing food and occasional uncontrollable overeating have not been shown to increase the risk of obesity (Torda Orsolya et al. 2020). Quite the opposite, it was also shown that dogs with food-related behavioral problems, or behavioral problems in general, were more likely to be normal-weight (Torda Orsolya et al. 2020). Why, has not been proven, but a suggestion for an explanation is that owners with dogs with problem behaviors around food/feeding have been more restrictive in order not to give the dog bad habits.

Another study examined how the owner's behavior affects the dog's weight, more specifically how seeing oneself as a “pet parent” compared to an “pet owner” influences obesity (van Herwijnen et al. 2020). This shows a clear tendency that dogs raised by “pet parents” have a greater risk of being overweight compared to “pet owners” (van Herwijnen et al. 2020). This probably makes higher demands on us, who are guiding pet owners’ management of overweight dogs, in addition to recommending fewer calories and more exercise.

ProBiotic LIVE Senior & Overweight is recommended for dogs where obesity prevention is desirable. It is a food that as the first priority matches the dog's needs, but can also appeal to many different types of dog owners. The entire series from ProBiotic LIVE also appeals to the group of dog owners who want to provide their dogs with extra well-being. This is due to the extra health-promoting properties of a feed containing probiotics, salmon oil, pure meat, and pure ingredients in general without artificial flavors, colours or preservatives.

We recommend ProBiotic LIVE Senior & Overweight for dogs over 10 kg, and ProBiotic LIVE Mini Breeds Senior & Overweight for dogs under 10 kg. Together with adequate exercise and daily feeding with a correct amount, also between Christmas and New Year, our dogs can start the new year running on light paws.

References:

• German, Alexander J. (2006): The Growing Problem of Obesity in Dogs and Cats. The Journal of Nutrition 136: 1940S–1946S.
• Torda Orsolya Julianna, Vékony Kata, Junó Vanda Katalin and Pongrácz Péter (2020) Animals, 10, 1267.
• Herwijnen IRv, Corbee RJ, Endenburg N, Beerda B, Borg JAMvd (2020) Permissive parenting of the dog associates with dog overweight in a survey among 2303 Dutch dog owners. PLoS ONE 15(8).